Axalta Coating Systems published its sustainability report covering the company’s progress against a range of sustainability metrics measured over the course of 2014 and 2015. The report reviews accomplishments in operations and environmental compliance, technology and product innovations, talent acquisition and development that will provide the foundation for sustained growth, and corporate social responsibility initiatives that give back to the communities in which Axalta operates. The report was prepared using the Global Reporting Initiative’s (GRI) G4 guidelines and includes a completed GRI Index.

“Our report catalogs significant progress toward meeting key sustainability goals that we set for ourselves, that we strive to help our customers meet, and that society expects from responsible companies,” explained Axalta Chairman and CEO Charlie Shaver. “Sustainability is fundamental to our business. Our coatings are designed to enable our customers’ products to last longer and perform better. This will sustain their success, and when they succeed we do as well. We’re also proud of our efforts to minimize our impact on the environment as we manufacture our coatings.”

The two-year period covered by the report has been transformative in the history of Axalta. After emerging as an independent company, Axalta embarked on a growth course announcing expanded manufacturing facilities in China, Germany, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and India. These facilities, either completed or under construction today, have been designed with next-generation technology to reduce their environmental footprint while providing quality coatings. Although production has increased by more than 12 percent since 2013, and the number of manufacturing sites has increased to 38 from 35, the energy intensity rate has decreased by 6 percent over the same period.

Investments were also announced to expand R&D capabilities that will be needed to develop next-generation coating technologies for customers and that are formulated to help them meet their sustainability objectives. New formulations enable Axalta vehicle coatings to perform on carbon fiber and other lightweight substrates that are increasingly integrated into vehicle design to improve fuel economy and reduce CO2 emissions.